System and related methods for automatically determining media type in a printing device media tray

Abstract

A system and related methods for automatically identifying media type in a printing device media tray is presented. The system comprises a controller, and an optical sensor, communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is positioned to locate and identify a code containing media type information from a next available piece of print media, and to generate a signal to the controller based, at least in part, on the identified code.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus comprising: 
       a controller; and  
       an optical sensor, communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is positioned to locate and identify a code containing media type information from a next available piece of media in a printing device media drawer, and to generate a signal to the controller based, at least in part, on the identified code, wherein  
       the location of the markings also indicates the media type.  
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies the media type based on the signal received from the optical sensor. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal is an electrical representation of the identified code. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the code is comprised of one or more markings made to print media by a manufacturer of the media. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the markings are made by one or more of the following colored ink, self-dissolving, temporary ink and/or notches cut from an edge of the media. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal generated by the optical sensor is influenced by the location of the identified code. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the markings are nearly imperceptible to an end user. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller maintains a record of media type usage by the apparatus. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller causes a product subsidy to be issued to an end-user of the apparatus based, at least in part, on the record of media type usage. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller modifies one or more operating parameters of the apparatus in response to the identified media type. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the controller invokes a media cutting system to alter at least one of the size and the shape of the print media to a desired size. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is a printing device, and controller modifies one or more printing parameters to improve print results based, at least in part, on the identified media type. 
     
     
       13. A method comprising: 
       locating strategic marks on at least a next available media item populating a media drawer of a printing device;  
       identifying a media type of the next available media item based, at least in part, on the located strategic marks; and  
       receiving media handling instructions from a document delivery server in response to a generated indication that denotes the next available media type.  
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
       adjusting one or more print settings of the printing device based, at least in part, on the identified media type.  
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
       altering one or more physical attributes of the identified print media based, at least in part, on the identified media type.  
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
       identifying a manufacturer of the next available media item based, at least in part, on the located strategic marks.  
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
       maintaining a record of media type usage by manufacturer; and  
       soliciting a product subsidy on behalf of an end-user of the printing device based, at least in part, on the record of media type usage by manufacturer.  
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the generated indication denotes the next available media type to the document delivery server. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
       determining that the next available media item is not properly oriented within the media drawer; and  
       issuing a message denoting improper media orientation.  
     
     
       20. A storage medium comprising a plurality of executable instructions including at least a subset of which, when executed, implement a method according to  claim 13 .